The Education of Little Tree

Right now I'm reading an autobiography about a cherokee boy (Little Tree) who was brought up by his grandparents in the Appalachian mountains during the Great Depression.

So far it's all been told from the perspective of a 5 year old as he helps his 70 year old Granpa hide their whiskey still from the law, learns to stop hitting his chin while plowing, cusses with granpa while granma is away...

The book gives you the wisdom of a 70 year old as seen from a 5 year old's perspective. The reading level is considered "Young Adult" so it's a very smooth read, going into detail on some things but keeping things rolling fast enough to hold your attention.

In one of the adventures I just finished Little Tree finds himself 'slickered' out of a hard earned 50 cents when he buys a sick calf from a man claiming to be a christian.

After the calf dies, he has dinner with Granma and Granpa:

While we was eating, Granpa looked at me and said "Ye see, Little Tree, ain't no way of learning, except by letting ye do. Iff'n I had stopped ye from buying the calf, ye'd have always thought ye'd ought to had it. Iff'n I'd told ye to buy it, ye'd blame me fer the calf dying. Ye'll have to learn as ye go."

"Yes, sir," I said.

"Now," Granpa said, "what did ye learn?"

"Well," I said, "I reckin I learned not to trade with Christians."

Granma commenced to laugh. I didn't see hardly anything funny atall about it. Granpa looked dumbstruck; then he laughed so hard he choked on his corn bread. I figgered I had learned something funny but I didn't know what it was.